A quick thought about Giardia

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I've noticed that this seems to be quite a problem in the US.  It's not the same here and is quite rare.  My breeder is using Panacur 10 to worm her puppies and this is what Riley was given and I will continue with it. You give it for three consecutive days unlike the Drontal Plus.  I believe that Panacur also is good for dealing with the dreaded Giardia and I'm wondering why you don't use Panacur as a preventative more often which might mean less cases of Giardia?

[Rosemarie Panzitta]

My puppy had Giardia and she was treated 3 times with flagel and panacur till she finally cleared. I also had her vaccinated now at 8 months she she is doing fine.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I suspect the breeders don't use it because it's either more expensive or harder for them to get on their own without purchasing through a vet. They get generic mail order stuff that's available without prescription, but is not as effective against giardia as Panacur.

Panacur is the treatment of choice for giardia. Metronidazole is an antiprotozoic (it's the generic form of Flagyl, which many women here may recognize as the drug that treats trichomoniasis) that's effective against coccidia, but not so effective against giardia.

Why the vets don't automatically give Panacur, I have no idea. Mine does.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

My Vet gives it out so rarely that she just checked her supply room and her last batch of the Panacur powder was out dated. I had to ask her for it for her to prescribe it though.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Just a thought as I read your post.... Several people mentioned that you can have your vet call the RX into your pharmacy and it will be cheaper than from the vet.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

When Daisy came home she used Panacur as well....she had to have 3 rounds of it her flat worms were so bad. So we do use it here in the USA as well.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My Vet seems to automatically prescribe Panacur for giardia for the first three days.  She also uses Metronidazole, but with the Panacur.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Apparently Panacur is available without a prescription. Maybe the vets don't recommend it because of this?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

F, the powder form of Panacur used for giardia in dogs is only available by Rx through licensed veterinarians, according to several websites I saw. There is an OTC product, Panacur C, which is used for deworming, but it appears to be a different product.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I found that confusing as well. When I pick up the Panacur tomorrow I will ask about that.And I will also ask why they don't just use that as their first line drug or at least with the metronidazole.

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

Panacur is the first choice of my vet and it does seem to work well.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I have ordered it from my local Chemist.  I do live in a farming area so he does stock a lot of Veterinary stuff and he is also ok to dispense without an Rx in emergencies ( I just have to bring it to him after the next time I am visiting the Vet so no added vet fees)

I have to think that there is possibly another reason the vets don't give or prescribe Panacur and that may be the other Drug companies are offering incentives to sell other brands and that Panacur isn't marketed in the same way.  It would seem obvious to me given the huge amount of Giardia around that Panacur should be used on puppies routinely.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I wonder about this too.